Indiana University was home to some of the most successful athletic programs in the country last year. The football team is the reigning national champion, while many other programs made appearances in their respective NCAA Tournaments in 2025-26.
While students have to pay for football and men’s basketball tickets, all other sporting events are free for students with their Crimson Card, making it a cheap and accessible way to get out of the dorms, meet new people and experience some of the culture at IU.
Here are some events worth attending in the fall:
The first athletic event I attended as a student at IU was a men’s soccer game, and I ended up going to so many more during my freshman year. It’s a great way to get out of the dorms and spend time outside with your friends — or by yourself.
The men’s soccer team has made 39 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, but after receiving the No. 6 seed and a first-round bye in 2025, its season ended in the second round. It marked the first time since 2014 that the program did not advance to the third round of the tournament.
Head coach Todd Yeagley and the Hoosiers brought in 13 new players — five freshmen and eight transfers — to fill the gaps after others departed the program. Graduate student midfielder Alex Matthews, who transferred from Missouri State University, will add experience to the Hoosiers’ roster, as he played in three NCAA Tournaments during his time with the Bears. Junior defender Nick McHenry will join Indiana from Ohio State University and help bolster the Hoosiers’ defense. Indiana is aiming for its ninth national championship this season and first since 2012.
If you want to attend an event indoors, then volleyball is the way to go. Indiana volleyball reached the NCAA Tournament regional semifinals in 2025, which marked the farthest the program has advanced in its history.
While two of the most impactful players in program history — outside hitter Candela Alonso-Corcelles and opposite hitter Avry Tatum — played their final games last December, the Hoosiers are returning a core group of young players who helped the team reach a program-high 25 wins.
The student section, located on the east end of Wilkinson Hall, enhances the environment. The students are just a few feet away from the court, and the IU Student Athletic Board members dress up in costumes.
Less attended fall sports like women’s soccer and field hockey are still great opportunities to attend as a way to hang out with a friend or just take a break from studying.
Cross country and the men’s and women’s tennis and golf teams compete in the fall, but few of their fall events are at an IU athletic complex.